Report: Red Sox mulling 'outside-the-box solutions' for 3B

Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is reportedly considering a creative solution to fill the club's vacant hot corner.

With Pablo Sandoval finally someone else's problem after his official release Wednesday, the Red Sox are now without a permanent third baseman in the lineup. But due to a thin trade market, Dombrowski is reportedly mulling outside-the-box solutions - infielders at other positions - to play third for his club, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

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Rosenthal added that Boston would prefer to add a flexible infielder on an expiring contract in order to provide top prospect Rafael Devers - also a third baseman - with ample playing time next season, provided the 20-year-old is ready to make the jump to the majors.

Utility players Brock Holt and Deven Marrero are currently Boston's preferred options at third, and minor-league infielder Tzu-Wei Lin also temporarily manned the position for a total of 57 innings following his first MLB call-up in June.

The Red Sox, however, are likely searching for more offensive production from the hot corner; their 55 wRC+ from third basemen is the worst mark in the majors, while only the San Francisco Giants' minus-0.8 WAR is lower than Boston's at the position (minus-0.6), courtesy of Fangraphs.